Examining Workplace Risk for Breast Cancer

WINDSOR, ON, Nov. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - A multi-year research project funded
by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) finds an average
increase in breast cancer risk of 42 per cent for women who work for a
ten year period in environments with high exposure to carcinogens and
hormone disrupting chemicals.

CBCF-funded lead researchers Dr. James Brophy and Dr. Margaret Keith
along with an international team of co-investigators gathered
occupational histories from more than 2000 women in Essex and Kent
counties in Southern Ontario, including both those diagnosed with
breast cancer and women unaffected by the disease.

"Over the last 25 years mortality rates for breast cancer have declined
by nearly 40 per cent but incidence rates have remained the same, with
one in nine Canadian women getting breast cancer in her lifetime, "
said Sandra Palmaro, CEO, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario
Region. "This research provides new evidence about workplace risks
associated with breast cancer that we hope will lead to a better
understanding of how to prevent the disease."

The findings also indicated further elevated risk in certain workplaces
or industries. For example, women working in:

Automotive plastics and food canning industries are approximately 500
per cent (five times) more at risk to develop breast cancer before
reaching menopause

Bars and gambling facilities are 228 percent (2.28 times) more at risk
of developing breast cancer

Farming are 36 per cent (0.36 times) more at risk of developing breast
cancer

"This study contributes to the growing evidence regarding the importance
of preventing exposures to agents that increase breast cancer risk. It
also points to the value of considering women's occupational histories
when we are searching for modifiable risk factors," said Dr. James
Brophy, co-principal investigator on the project.

"For too long researchers have ignored women's workplace conditions in
their quest to understand why some women develop breast cancer and
others do not. These findings reveal that we need to revamp our
occupational health regulatory system to take into account women's
breast cancer risk. Such preventive measures could have a significant
impact on the breast cancer incidence in Canada,"said Dr. Margaret
Keith, co-principal investigator on the project.

This landmark research provides new evidence to help inform discussions
with governments, industry, health care providers and stakeholders
about the serious effects occupational risk factors can have on the
development of breast cancer, which impacts women everyday in Ontario,
across Canada and around the world.

"This research reminds us that we need to continue to demand a
precautionary approach to dealing with toxic substances," stated Dayna
Nadine Scott, Director of the National Network on Environments and
Women's Health. "There is a growing understanding that when it comes to
endocrine disrupting chemicals, even low doses can be dangerous."

CBCF is the largest non-governmental funder of breast cancer research in
Canada and one of the largest in the world. Its investments in research
and fellowships are changing the landscape of what is known and
understood about breast cancer and have supported more than $274
million in research projects and fellowships since 1986. This study
was funded by Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is the leading community-driven
organization in Canada dedicated to creating a future without breast
cancer. Our investments in innovative and relevant research and
education have led to progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis,
treatment and care. Since 1986, we have been at the forefront of a
nationwide movement supporting and advocating for the breast cancer
community. Join us at www.cbcf.org.

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